Anthony Joshua wants to be back in the ring very soon after boxing Jermaine Franklin to a unanimous decision victory.
It was an important win for the Olympic Gold Medalist and two-time world heavyweight champion. He entered the ring off the back of two defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, his last victory coming over Kubrat Pulev in 2020.
Franklin was a tricky customer, answering back with fast hands each time he was struck by ‘AJ’, and going into survival mode in the second half of the fight with extended clinching that made it a messy contest.
Durability praise aside, the general consensus is that Joshua showed a reluctance to step on the gas and build on some solid work from the jab. He landed trademark uppercuts at many points, but those didn’t dent Franklin enough to give Joshua the confidence to go in for the kill.
He expressed some disappointment for the manner of the victory in the aftermath, but the overriding benefits are relief and activity. There’s the added ring time with new coach, Derrick James, too.
Taking to Instagram the following day, ‘AJ’ said:
“Light 12 rounds. Cardio. Recovery day. 12 weeks I go again. All glory to God.”
His twelve week timeline is ambitious but, in many fans’ minds, necessary. The former champion wants to be fighting at the top of the division again, and he needs to get out to get there.
Next up, he fancies Tyson Fury, Joe Joyce or Deontay Wilder. A more realistic option will be a rematch with Dillian Whyte, eight years on from their first professional bout which Joshua won by seventh round knockout.
Whyte was in attendance and trashed his British rival’s performance against the man he beat by majority decision just five months ago.